Bhubaneswar: At just 19 years old, Indian chess grandmaster D Gukesh is a dazzling star on the global chess scene, headlining the upcoming Global Chess League player draft on September 26, 2025. Known for his meteoric rise, Gukesh became the youngest-ever undisputed World Chess Champion in December 2024, defeating reigning champion Ding Liren in a thrilling 14-game match with a score of 7.5 to 6.5. His near-perfect accuracy and mature gameplay have earned him worldwide acclaim as a prodigy turned legend.Gukesh’s journey began at age seven with chess lessons in Chennai, India. By age 12 years and 7 months, he had become a grandmaster, the third-youngest in history, and routinely broke records thereafter — including becoming the youngest player to surpass a 2750 FIDE rating and the top-ranked Indian player, surpassing legendary Viswanathan Anand’s 37-year reign.Among his many accolades, Gukesh led India to its first-ever men’s team gold medal at the 2024 Chess Olympiad with an unbeaten performance on board one. “Chess is a game of infinite possibilities,” Gukesh has said, reflecting on his strategic approach and hunger to keep improving.Now, as the marquee ‘Icon’ player for the Global Chess League, launched by FIDE and Tech Mahindra, Gukesh will join a star-studded draft pool featuring other giants like Anand and Praggnanandhaa. Fans will watch eagerly as one of chess’s brightest stars shapes the future of the sport in this gender-inclusive, high-octane league starting this December in Chennai.
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